April 28

East London Swimmers

By Ella Miista

London Fields is more than the cool corner near the Broadway Market end. It's filled with people, each of who have their own story. Madeleine Waller went to the London Fields lido to capture some of them. East London in general... it's a world of its own. Everyone here is one of a kind and that's why we enjoy living here so much. Loving their local neighbourhoods as much as we do, Hoxton Mini Press publishes collectable books on all the weird and wonderful you might come across here. Their illustration book The People of East London holds pictures of everyone from the Guardian dads to 'general dickheads'. A Portrait of Hackney shows the changing face of the borough through the eyes of photographer Zed Nelson. Martin Usborne offers his views having lived here for over 80 years. Madeleine Waller and her swimmers are the focus of their next book East London Swimmers. In a way we assume a certain made up identity every time we dress up. As we shed our clothes to step into the water, we also shed that identity. We become more naked in every way. "I'm always struck by how swimmers have a different persona in the pool. I wanted to document this incredible transformation," Waller says on her project. The book sees the people in both their daily outfits and swim gear, and shares their motivation behind swimming. From someone that got caught in a tsunami to another person adamant on holding their breath until they experience hallucinations, everyone has a story to tell. Waller's unique way of showing them gets them to talk and the results are sincere and honest. The book is out in May.